Korea is a region full of very beautiful landscapes. In the North and South Korean cities, huge skyscrapers point out the high level of industrialization and development in the cities.
Korean culture is also very rich, laden with delightful cuisines and extravagant festivals, and many of the technological giants are also located in Korea.
Key Takeaways
- North Korea is a communist country, while South Korea is a democratic republic.
- North Korea is isolated and heavily regulated, while South Korea is more open and has a thriving economy.
- North Korea has a nuclear program and a history of human rights abuses, while South Korea is a close ally of the United States and has a more positive global reputation.
North vs South Korea
North Korea is a one-party state under the dictatorship and rule of Kim Jong-Un. Its capital is Pyongyang, and the country has a population size of over 26 million people. It is a powerful country in terms of military and nuclear weapons. South Korea is a democratic country famous for its entertainment industry. It has a population size of over 51 million people, and the capital city is called Seoul.
North Korea is one of the major powers in terms of weapons and influence.
The political leaders make it an extremist and pro-military country, with more than 30 percent of its population working for the military.
The national ideology is called Juche, which entails that every individual should be strong and self-reliant.
The country also possesses nuclear weapons and is very feared by all major powers in the world.
South Korea has a population of 51 million people.s It has a very rich social culture and is also very developed, ranking 7th in the Human Development Index.
South Korea is a really good ally of the United States. It is also a leader in digital device manufacturing and science. The entertainment industry has also boomed in recent years.
Comparison Table
| Parameters of Comparison | North Korea | South Korea |
|---|---|---|
| Size | North Korea covers an area of approximately 120, 540 sq. kilometers. | South Korea is smaller with a land area of 100, 210 sq. kilometers. |
| Government | It is a socialist state under a dictatorship government. | It is a democratic country under a constitutional and sovereign republic. |
| Capital | Its capital city is called Pyongyang and it is the largest city in the country. | Its largest and capital city is named Seoul and it is one of the most developed cities in the world. |
| Economy | It is ranked as the 125th economy according to its proportions, with a GDP of approximately US$27.4 billion (2020). | It is the 10th biggest economy among all countries with a GDP of US$1,630.87 billion (2020) |
| Population | North Korea has a population of approximately 25.7 million people, making 0.33% of the world. | South Korea has a population of approximately 51.8 million people, making 0.65% of the world. |
What is North Korea?
North Korea is a strict and military country that is very closed off and has garnered an infamous reputation and is feared due to its military might and looming threats of attacks.
It has very strict rules, which might seem very restrictive and inhuman to outsiders.
North Korean politics is governed by the Kim Family, which has had three consecutive rulers of North Korea until now.
The family has been held in high regard by the country’s general populace, and their word is the law. The birthdays and other occasions of the family are treated as national days of celebration.
North Korea has an irreligious majority. More importance is given to self-development and self-reliance.
“People should believe only in the state and work hard for its betterment” is the ideology of the country. There are still traces of the population practicing Christianity and Confucianism.
North Korea is one of the prominent powers of the world despite its small size because of its military might and the threat of nuclear weapons.
The Supreme Leader has shown acts of cruelty, and the country is also in competition with the likes of greater powers such as the US.
What is South Korea?
South Korean culture has recently become a massive sensation among young millennial people due to the music and movies made in the country.
Its eating culture has also become a massive hit on video streaming platforms.
Unlike North Korea, South Korea has adopted a democratic and people-friendly policy.
It is one of the world’s most prominent technological and entrepreneurial economies, with massive development throughout. It is the 10th richest economy in the world.
Some of the world’s most appreciated brands, such as Samsung, LG, and Hyundai, are from Korea.
The transportation system of South Korea is the most developed in the world, equipped with some of the fastest trains in the world.
Its entertainment industry has also boomed in recent years, being called a “little Hollywood.” The cuisine and culture of the country are also very distinct and recognized worldwide.
According to the Human Development Index, South Korea is ranked as the seventh country which measures happiness and satisfaction.
Unlike its counterpart, South Korea has very good political and trading relations with the US. It has the highest number of troops kept in reserve in the whole world.
Main Differences Between North and South Korea
- North Korea is a totalitarian state with strict rules and severe punishments, whereas South Korea is a democracy where people wield the right to vote and choose their own lawmakers.
- North Korea is geographically 20% smaller and almost half as densely populated as South Korea, where approximately 56 Million people live.
- South Korea is the 7th best country according to HDI and is widely regarded as a good and developed country whereas North Korea is widely frowned upon for not having adequate living and health conditions with more focus on military might.
- South Korea is one of the G20 economies of the world and has much better economic statistics than North Korea.
- South Korea has more cultural influence over the world since North Korean borders are practically closed for trade and other exchanges with the majority of the world.
- https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Marcus-Noland/publication/23725116_The_Future_of_North_Korea_is_South_Korea/links/0046351841f00c908a000000/The-Future-of-North-Korea-is-South-Korea.pdf
- https://heinonline.org/hol-cgi-bin/get_pdf.cgi?handle=hein.journals/brownjwa15§ion=26
Last Updated : 13 July, 2023
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Piyush Yadav has spent the past 25 years working as a physicist in the local community. He is a physicist passionate about making science more accessible to our readers. He holds a BSc in Natural Sciences and Post Graduate Diploma in Environmental Science. You can read more about him on his bio page.
Great breakdown of the differences between the two countries. Very interesting read.
While informative, the writing style could use some improvement.
Very informative post! Always interesting to learn more about different cultures and regions.
Yes, it’s fascinating to learn about the differences between North and South Korea.
Agree with you, the post is very interesting.
The development in South Korea is truly remarkable. Interesting comparison between the two countries.
Agreed, it’s quite eye-opening.
Sad to see the state of living conditions in North Korea. We really hope to see a better future for its people.
You are right, Stephanie, it’s quite disheartening.
It’s unfortunate, but hopefully, it’ll change in the future.
I strongly disagree with some of the content provided in this post.